Center Store

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Blue Diamond, known for its almond-based food products, announced that it is moving ahead with its expansion strategy by purchasing 88 acres of land in Turlock, Calif.

Blue Diamond said the Turlock location will help the company meet its increasing global market opportunities and crop supply. The capacity expansion plan includes ongoing operations at the Sacramento and Salida, Calif.-based plants with upgrades planned at both facilities.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Women who smoke have heart attacks at younger ages and are more likely than men to suffer complications months after a cardiac event, according to a new University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study released Tuesday.

Although fewer women than men smoke in the United States, the gender gap is decreasing and the U-M findings suggested the toll of smoking is greater on women’s health.

WASHINGTON — After the Federal Trade Commission charged the maker of an alcoholic, carbonated malt beverage with deceptive advertising, the company has agreed to make changes to its product's packaging.

CHICAGO — Mars Chocolate North America is expanding its portfolio with new varieties and snack sizes for some of its brands.

The products, which were unveiled at the National Association of Convenience Stores Show in Chicago this week, will include:

• 3 Musketeers coconut bar: Debuting in December for a suggested retail price of $1.09;

• Dove chocolate singles bars (available in milk and dark chocolate): Relaunching in a wider size (10% increase in weight) in Jan. 2012 for a suggested retail price of $1.09;

DENVER — PepsiCo has entered a partnership with an independent cultural marketing group that will allow the beverage company to develop relevant platforms that will target multicultural shoppers at retail.

EMERVYVILLE, Calif. — Clif Kid on Tuesday announced that its Full Moon Brownie Zbar, will be available for a limited time for families looking to give trick-or-treaters something a little more healthy this Halloween. Full Moon Brownie combines a chocolate brownie with white chocolate chips in a snack bar made with organic ingredients and baked whole grains, plus 12 vitamins and minerals specific for kids.

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Cool Gear has introduced new liquid travel containers that are ideal for air travel.

Go Gear travel tubes are made of squeezable BPA-free silicone material and feature easy-to-fill wide-mouth bottle openings for simple liquid transferring and dispensing, Cool Gear said. Go Gear products are available in 1.25-oz., 2-oz. and 3-oz. sizes, meeting airline-approved guidelines for the size of carry-on liquids. Additionally, Go Gear products come with write-on sticker labels to help users identify contents, and are available in turquoise, green and magenta.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — As part of its annual week of volunteer service, Kraft Foods said that about 30,000 employees from 60 countries will improve communities around the world.